Drew Woodcox drives in 6, Texas Tech bashes Air Force in series finale

After Drew Woodcox made less impact than hoped two years ago in his freshman season of college baseball, he transferred from Texas Tech to his hometown school Rice.

Tech coach Tim Tadlock told Woodcox he'd be welcome back if he ever reconsidered. After one season at Rice, the young designated hitter and corner man boomeranged back to Lubbock for a second chance.

Woodcox drove in six runs Wednesday, leading the 16th-ranked Red Raiders to an 18-5 victory against Air Force in the finale of a two-game series at Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park.

"I decided on my own to leave, and it's something that I do regret," said Woodcox, who two years ago for the Red Raiders batted .167 in 20 games. "I'm really excited to be back here. Since I've been back here, it's been amazing."

Woodcox delivered a bases-loaded triple and a two-run homer in his first two at-bats, helping Tech (10-0) lead 8-1 after two innings. His sacrifice fly in the third made it 11-1. He finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored.

Tadlock compared him to former Tech slugger Zach Rheams, who hit 17 home runs in 2018.

"He's a hitter. He's always hit," Tadlock said. "Really proud of him. A lot of power in there, not that that's what we're asking him to do. We're asking him to move on the right pitch, and if the power shows up, it shows up.

"But he's probably got as much power (as), you're talking about Zach Rheams back in the day. He's got as much as anybody we've probably had come through here, I would say. So if you tap into it and he gets going the right way, he can really impact the game in a big way."

Last year at Rice, Woodcox played in 30 games, making 24 starts. He batted .202 with 12 RBI, and the Owls finished 17-39. He remembered his amicable parting conversation with Tadlock after the 2021 season.

"He basically just said, 'If you ever need a spot on a team, let me know,' " Woodcox said. "So when I left Rice, I just let him know. He said, 'OK. Let's see what we can do, and see if you can come back and play,' and it all worked out for me.' "

On a day when Tech banged out 19 hits against seven pitchers, there were a lot of robust lines. First baseman Gavin Kash went 5 for 6 with a home run and three driven in. Shortstop Tracer Lopez supplied a two-run homer and a two-run single.

Cleanup-hitting second baseman Austin Green reached base all six times via a single, a double, three walks and a hit by pitch. He scored five times. Third baseman Kevin Bazzell singled, homered and walked in his first three plate appearances.

Jacob Rogers, one of eight Tech pitchers, got the win in his first career start. On a state runner-up team last year at Friendswood, Rogers was a star pitcher and his catcher was Dylan Maxcey. The Houston Chronicle named Rogers the pitcher of the year and Maxcey the hitter of the year on the All-Greater Houston team.

They were batterymates again Wednesday.

"All throughout high school, he's been my guy," Rogers said. "He's caught all my bullpens. Catches me every game. So having that out there, first time in college, with him catching me, was pretty cool."

Rogers (1-0) went three innings, allowing a run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

Quick hits

Tadlock said after Wednesday's game he didn't have an update on pitcher Bo Blessie, who left a start Tuesday night in the first inning with arm discomfort. Tech won 9-4, but arm issues have been an ongoing concern for the fifth-year senior, who hits high-90s on the radar gun when healthy.

"Obviously when you come out of a game a third of an inning in, 18, 19 pitches in, it's probably not good," Tadlock said. "He's had a history of having some soreness in the same spot, and it just reared its head again."

Tadlock said Blessie likely would have an MRI and be shut down for an indefinite period. ...

Next up for the Red Raiders is the Shriners' Children's College Classic this weekend in Houston. Tech is scheduled against Rice on Friday, Michigan on Saturday and No. 15 Texas A&M on Sunday, all at Minute Maid Park.

Tadlock said freshman lefthander Taber Fast (0-0, 5.14 earned-run average) will get the start on Sunday. He'll slot third in the rotation behind Brendan Girton (2-0, 1.64) and Mason Molina (1-0, 1.93). ...

Tadlock said there's a chance designated hitter Ty Coleman could return to the lineup this weekend. Coleman has missed five games with an undisclosed injury.

"He tweaked something," Tadlock said, declining to elaborate. "He's been swinging the bat the last couple of days and running the bases, so he's getting moving again."

TEXAS TECH 18, AIR FORCE 5

Air Force 010 201 010 — 5 8 1

Texas Tech 443 222 01x — 18 20 2

Shuger, Spencer (1), Stohr (2), Hebenstreit (4), Collier (5), Benge (6), Loveridge (7) and Reyes, Zapp (6); Rogers, Dathe (4), J. Lopez (4), Petty (6), Crowley (7), McGarrh (8), Lysik (9), Livingstone (9) and Maxcey. W—Rogers (1-0). L—Shuger (0-1). 2B—Air Force, Jones (1); Texas Tech, Maxcey (1), Green (3), Kash (4). 3B—Texas Tech, Woodcox (1). HR—Texas Tech, Bazzell (2), Woodcox (2), Kash (4), T. Lopez (1). Records: Air Force 2-7, Texas Tech 10-0.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Drew Woodcox drives in 6, Texas Tech bashes Air Force in series finale